There were no speed advisory signs along the M7 path I rode today. Perhaps a better way to enhance safety is for the dead heads to stop riding two abreast around the blind corners with one rider crossing onto to the other side of the path.

biker jk wrote:There were no speed advisory signs along the M7 path I rode today. Perhaps a better way to enhance safety is for the dead heads to stop riding two abreast around the blind corners with one rider crossing onto to the other side of the path.

They are at the entrance to Sunnyholt Rd at the top of the ramp,and at the norwest carpark, they seem to be off the actual cycleway, more on the entrances but further back.Timps There will allways be deadheads who can't ride safely, its a fact of life, not just cycling on the M7C

biker jk wrote:There were no speed advisory signs along the M7 path I rode today. Perhaps a better way to enhance safety is for the dead heads to stop riding two abreast around the blind corners with one rider crossing onto to the other side of the path.

That's not just on the M7 cycleway. It often happens on the Greystanes Canal reserve on that blind corner where you turn left to go down alongside the Prospect Reservoir car-park. You just ride like you are expecting it to happen. And give them a serve for it.

M7 is probably one of the best cycleways/shared paths for what we do, it is well surfaced and usually fairly wide.

biker jk wrote:There were no speed advisory signs along the M7 path I rode today. Perhaps a better way to enhance safety is for the dead heads to stop riding two abreast around the blind corners with one rider crossing onto to the other side of the path.

That's not just on the M7 cycleway. It often happens on the Greystanes Canal reserve on that blind corner where you turn left to go down alongside the Prospect Reservoir car-park. You just ride like you are expecting it to happen. And give them a serve for it.

M7 is probably one of the best cycleways/shared paths for what we do, it is well surfaced and usually fairly wide.

It's usually the Euro-cool roadies who ride two abreast through the blind corners and when I suggest they move to their own side of the path they usually tell me to you know what. I believe their reaction is one of embarrassment for being called on dangerous riding and they react by shooting the messenger.

Just keep an eye out on the bridge over Woodstock Av, Rooty Hill. When travelling south the expansion plate on the start of the bridge has a bump that is getting larger. I hit it at the wrong angle the other day and now have a very slight buckle in my front - if it was wet I think if you hit it at the wrong angle it could bring you down.

JK I hear you - my work mate and I do ride two abreast so we can talk but not when there are other riders / peds approaching or on the bends. I think (IMHO) that it is just too risky.

westab wrote:Just keep an eye out on the bridge over Woodstock Av, Rooty Hill. When travelling south the expansion plate on the start of the bridge has a bump that is getting larger. I hit it at the wrong angle the other day and now have a very slight buckle in my front - if it was wet I think if you hit it at the wrong angle it could bring you down.

JK I hear you - my work mate and I do ride two abreast so we can talk but not when there are other riders / peds approaching or on the bends. I think (IMHO) that it is just too risky.

Thanks for the note. And I think it is quite fine to ride as you are doing. You are sensible about it. I ride like that sometimes too, I enjoy talking and it's much easier to do this riding side-by-side.

What do blind corners have to do with riding two abreast? Hold your line, don't cross over onto the wrond side. Its an easy concept.

Do you ride the M7? If you did you would understand that human error accounts for a lot of the accidents in the underpasses of the M7. particularly when 2 groups approach each other.It happens, people over cook the approach, and drift across. The ideal way to ride it is if you are with someone or a group, is to drop into single file for the bends and underpasses, then regroup and continue your conversation 2 up when it is safe. Any imbecile can understand that. However many don't which is why there are many accidents.Tim

TimW wrote:Do you ride the M7? If you did you would understand that human error accounts for a lot of the accidents in the underpasses of the M7. particularly when 2 groups approach each other.It happens, people over cook the approach, and drift across. The ideal way to ride it is if you are with someone or a group, is to drop into single file for the bends and underpasses, then regroup and continue your conversation 2 up when it is safe. Any imbecile can understand that. However many don't which is why there are many accidents.Tim

I don't appreciate the inference that I'm an imbecile, mate. I've cycled thousands of km's on that track and never had an accident, but I don't cut corners, whether in a group, alone or two abreast.

TimW wrote:Do you ride the M7? If you did you would understand that human error accounts for a lot of the accidents in the underpasses of the M7. particularly when 2 groups approach each other.It happens, people over cook the approach, and drift across. The ideal way to ride it is if you are with someone or a group, is to drop into single file for the bends and underpasses, then regroup and continue your conversation 2 up when it is safe. Any imbecile can understand that. However many don't which is why there are many accidents.Tim

I don't appreciate the inference that I'm an imbecile, mate. I've cycled thousands of km's on that track and never had an accident, but I don't cut corners, whether in a group, alone or two abreast.

You have drawn the inference, i was infering nothing to you, but the ones who cut the corners.

TimW wrote:Do you ride the M7? If you did you would understand that human error accounts for a lot of the accidents in the underpasses of the M7. particularly when 2 groups approach each other.It happens, people over cook the approach, and drift across. The ideal way to ride it is if you are with someone or a group, is to drop into single file for the bends and underpasses, then regroup and continue your conversation 2 up when it is safe. Any imbecile can understand that. However many don't which is why there are many accidents.Tim

+1. It's about risk management. There is no need to ride two abreast through the blind corners. The risk of drifting over the centreline is high. If the outside rider takes corrective action to avoid a head on he/she will take out their riding partner. Don't ride two abreast through the corners. It's idiotic.

just a heads up, lots of storm debris between elizabeth drive and prestons, mainly leaves and twigs etc but there are also some decent size branches too. i managed to kick a few of the really large ones off so take care out there

vince wrote:just a heads up, lots of storm debris between elizabeth drive and prestons, mainly leaves and twigs etc but there are also some decent size branches too. i managed to kick a few of the really large ones off so take care out there

Thanks for the note - I'm planning to head out that way tomorrow morning - weather permitting.

I did ride along the southern side of M7 past Horsley Drive and pretty much all the storm debris is clear, but watch for the 90° corners under the M7 motorway, there is still a lot of loose dirt there.

Watch for little rabbits. Last Friday night (28th Dec) there was one running around on the path, no big deal. This Friday though (4th Jan), there were two bolting around on the downhll sections. Not much fun when you're on the aerobars..

If you are coming down the hill too fast and are not slowed down by the speed bumps at Norwest, going towards Parramatta, right where you will most probably lose it on the bend the railing pops off its rectangular metal base leaving a piece of metal that can go into your shoulder and leave a 10 x 6 cm hole all the way down to your bone or Clavicle as the doctors call it. As you have probably guessed I know this from experience and have the photos if anyone is interested.

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